(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Gun and mortar fire echoed across Bangladesh’s capital this morning as border guards mutinied against their superio
r officers and seized a shopping mall, apparently over a pay dispute. At least one person was killed and eight more were injured, according to a local hospital official. Flames were seen rising from the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles border guards and several loud blasts were heard as army troops entered the complex and surrounded the mall in a bid to crush the mutiny.
A military helicopter was also seen hovering over the camp in Dhaka’s Pilkhana district as traffic ground to a halt in the immediate area and panic spread across the entire city.
"There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at the headquarters. We have heard mortar fire," said Nabojit Khisa, the local police chief.
The sound of gunfire in the capital initially raised fears of a military coup but local television reports said that the border guards had come out of their barracks chanting slogans for better pay and conditions and then seized a shopping mall and a conference hall, where officers were meeting.
The television channel ETV reported that several bystanders had been hit by stray bullets.
The fighting comes only a day after Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, visited the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters and urged the border guards to become “more disciplined and remain ever-ready to guard the country's frontiers”.
A statement from the army said that the Government was urging the border guards to lay down their arms and return to barracks and was offering to hold talks over their demands. "Please end the indiscipline and violent activities immediately, drop your guns and return to the barracks," the statement said.
"The Prime Minister will listen to your demands and meet them as much possible. Please resume order and end violence otherwise you will face (punitive) actions."
Sajjad Haider, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Rifles, said: “The army has moved in to deal with the situation.”
The mutiny is the most serious crisis yet for the newly elected Government, which came to power in December after two years of army-backed emergency rule.
r officers and seized a shopping mall, apparently over a pay dispute. At least one person was killed and eight more were injured, according to a local hospital official. Flames were seen rising from the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles border guards and several loud blasts were heard as army troops entered the complex and surrounded the mall in a bid to crush the mutiny.
A military helicopter was also seen hovering over the camp in Dhaka’s Pilkhana district as traffic ground to a halt in the immediate area and panic spread across the entire city.
"There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at the headquarters. We have heard mortar fire," said Nabojit Khisa, the local police chief.
The sound of gunfire in the capital initially raised fears of a military coup but local television reports said that the border guards had come out of their barracks chanting slogans for better pay and conditions and then seized a shopping mall and a conference hall, where officers were meeting.
The television channel ETV reported that several bystanders had been hit by stray bullets.
The fighting comes only a day after Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, visited the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters and urged the border guards to become “more disciplined and remain ever-ready to guard the country's frontiers”.
A statement from the army said that the Government was urging the border guards to lay down their arms and return to barracks and was offering to hold talks over their demands. "Please end the indiscipline and violent activities immediately, drop your guns and return to the barracks," the statement said.
"The Prime Minister will listen to your demands and meet them as much possible. Please resume order and end violence otherwise you will face (punitive) actions."
Sajjad Haider, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Rifles, said: “The army has moved in to deal with the situation.”
The mutiny is the most serious crisis yet for the newly elected Government, which came to power in December after two years of army-backed emergency rule. 
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